Interactive, Multimedia Exhibits at the Longshed Building Will Welcome Visitors During 2025 Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemoration
See Pictures of Waterway of Change Here; Free, Timed Ticketing Available Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the opening of “Waterway of Change: Complex Legacies of the Erie Canal,” an engaging new visitor experience at Canalside in Buffalo commemorating the Erie Canal Bicentennial. The 2,900-square-foot exhibit invites guests of all ages and abilities to explore Buffalo’s canal legacy through an inclusive and engaging lens. Housed in the Longshed building, Waterway of Change brings the canal’s layered history to life with short films, interactive touch screens, immersive audio, and historic artifacts. Complementing the indoor experience, a series of outdoor interpretive displays along the historic towpaths will offer visitors a deeper connection to this transformative chapter in New York’s story.
“Waterway of Change shares the remarkable story of the Erie Canal, and the area now known as Canalside, with visitors,” Governor Hochul said. “As we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal, this multi-faceted experience will draw more people to Buffalo’s waterfront and help them connect to its history in a new and participative way.”
The exhibit traces Canalside’s history, beginning with its significance as the ancestral land of the Haudenosaunee and acknowledging the impacts of their displacement. Visitors will also experience how the area transformed from a rural village at the time the Erie Canal opened in 1825 to a bustling 19th-century port and shipping hub. It also highlights the diverse perspectives of Indigenous Peoples, Black individuals, women, and immigrant communities affected by the canal’s development, offering a richer understanding of its cultural and historical significance.
“Waterway of Change” will be open Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays, noon to 5 p.m. and Thursdays through Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m. Free, timed-admission ticketing is available here.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Waterway of Change showcases the multilayered history of the canal, from its technical innovations and contributions to Buffalo’s rapid transformation to the lived experience and perspective of the people who were part of the journey. The Erie Canal’s legacy is alive in Buffalo, and I encourage all New Yorkers to visit this unique experience at Canalside as a starting point for your Bicentennial commemoration.”